Tag for mail-bags



Arat* Fries.

f C. A. SNYDER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

TAG FOR MAI L-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 98,4111, dated December 28, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C. A. SNYDER, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, and in the State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tags for Mail- Bags, 85o., and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thi specitication.

rIhe nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement ot' a tag for mailbags, railroad-cars, Ste.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, which represents a front view of the tag partly open.

A represents a flat bar or plate of suitable dimensions, having a hole at one end, so as to be pivoted or otherwise attached to the mailbag. At the other end of the plate A is an elongated slot, a, through which the stapleon the mailbag is to pass. On the front side of the plate A, near the inner end of the slot a, is a raised block or projection, B, within which is placed a spring-catch to hold the cover or lid C in place. The cover or lid C is pivoted to the plate A near the end where the plate is attached to the mail-bag, and its outer end is cut or beveled, so as to fit in a curved groove on the inner side of the block B, the out or beveled end having a notch, l), in which the spring-catch fits so as to lioldtlie cover. This springcatch consists of the rod d, with projection e on its inner end, which is shaped so as to lit in the notch b, and beveled' on the lower side, so that it can yield when the cover is being closed. The spring i, placed around the rod d, presses the projection e into the notch b. 0n the outer end of the rod d is a knob, f, by means ofwhich the projection e is withdrawn and the tag opened. When the tag is closed and the staple of the mail-bag projects through the slot a the spring-catch cannot be opened. Hence while the mail-bag is in transit the ticket in the tag cannot be rchanged, as it will be necessary to unlock the lock before the tag can be removed from the staple.

The cover or lid C is on its under side provided with longitudinal grooves, in which is a strip of glass, mica, or other transparent snbstance, so that the ticket underneath can be seen, (the cover being slotted for that purpose,) and at the same time be protected from wet or any outside interference.

Under the cover C .the plate Ais provided with a recess, in which the ticket showing the name ofthe post-office is placed. At the ends ot' the recess there is a transverse groove, in which the ends of the ticket are inserted, thus holding it securely in place. The ticket itself is printed on both sides-on one side with the name of the post-ofice to which it is destined,

and on the other side with the name ofthe return-oflice.

A tag constructed in this manner may be used on freightars on railroads, and will be found of decided advantage.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by l. The plate A, constructed as described, with slot a, block B, containing the spring catch e, and a recess having transverse grooves at its ends for the insertion ofthe ticket, sub stantially as herein set forth.

2. The lid or cover O, pivoted at one end to the plate A, and having at its outer end a notch, b, and on its under side longitudinal grooves for the insertion of glass, mica, or other suitable transparent material, substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination of the plate A, block B, spring-catch c,-and cover O, all constructedas described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day ot' July, 1869.

U. A. SNYDER. Witnesses:

A. N. MARR, A. A. YEATMAN. 

